The last two years on our way home from Scotland we have stayed overnight at Marchbankwood House in Beattock, three miles from Moffat in the east of Dumfries and Galloway. The guest house accommodation is close enough to the main roads to make it easily accessible, but far enough away to be in a quiet country setting. They provide bed and breakfast accommodation; superking beds and full Scottish breakfast using locally sourced ingredients.
Marchbankwood House was built in 1840 and is set in five acres of gardens and woodlands. It was a private house until the 1980s when it became a country hotel. In the 1990s it reverted back to a private house until Sally and Alastair Tait moved there in 2005. Rather than convert it back into a hotel they chose to open a guest house and have three letting rooms which are excellent value for money. Sally is extremely welcoming, friendly and helpful (I'm sure Alastair is as well but I haven't met him!) and I suspect they have few, if any, dissatisfied visitors.
Marchbankwood House is surrounded by countryside and has wonderful views across the Moffat Hills. The garden is shared with a wide range of wildlife including deer, frogs, rabbits, buzzards, pheasants and so on!
This is Charlie who is happy to play catch the stick and bring it back for throwing again.
Last year when we went Sally and Alastair's young daughter had just put up a notice asking people to show where they were from. We were the third dot on the British map. This year there were lots and lots of dots - a really good way to learn geography.
This is the driveway from the house to the road.
If you ever get the opportunity to stop at Marchbankwood House we can thoroughly recommend it.
Great recommendation and if I get to that part of my bucket list, I will.
ReplyDeleteIf i'm ever blessed to be able to go that way, i will be sure to take your advice and stay there!
ReplyDeleteHi, Clive. Just dropped by to say hello this morning and found your B&B recommendation. Sounds just the sort of place which would suit us. We have a good one on mid-Wales, Cwmllechwed Fawr, up a similar track to Marchbankwood House's. On a working farm between Newtown (Powys) and Lllandrindod Wells. Worth a go if ever you are there. Cheers, Ray.
ReplyDeleteHi Ray. Thanks for the recommendation - just looked at it on Booking.com and it looks super.
DeleteLooks nice. And fun idea with the maps.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely place to visit and stay! I would love to go there..maybe someday, you never know. I thought I saw a little dot on the map in Ohio! Anyway, what does a full Scottish breakfast consist of?
ReplyDeleteThe breakfast starts with a 'help yourself' table of fruit juices, cereals, fruit, etc. Tea or coffee (one can choose) are served in a pot with sugar and milk or in some cases left on the large table for one to help oneself. Then a cooked breakfast is served consisting of sausages, bacon, eggs, haggis, black pudding, tomato, mushroom and tattie scone (i.e. a scone made with potatoes). (Some people include baked beans but that is not part of a traditional Scottish breakfast.) This is accompanied by or followed by toast and marmalade. You can forget about the need to find yourself lunch anywhere - you are set up for the day!
DeleteWow! Sounds very delish but I'm not sure what haggis is or black pudding but I can tell you this..Jack would be all over the baked beans! He loves them! Thanks John!
DeleteCharlie is beautiful. I'd visit just to play fetch with him. :)
ReplyDeleteA place to be borne in mind...thanks.
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